An implant is a titanium screw inserted in place of a missing tooth, replacing its root. Once healed, an abutment is placed on the implant. The crown is then attached to the abutment, which, from an aesthetic point of view, functions just like a tooth.

Implants may be used for single tooth reconstructions, if many teeth are missing or to stabilise removable dentures recreating denture in gaps, which eliminates problems associated with fixing them to a surface. If implants are used there is no need for grinding teeth adjacent to the gap as in the case of conventional bridges or crowns.

An implant in the bone prevents its atrophy and collapse of the alveolar process which in turn may lead to a collapse of cheek lips, reduced occlusion height and appearance of wrinkles around the lips, deepening of nasolabial folds which makes the face appear older.